Darren Ferguson: Wembley win would lift us

28 March 2014

Darren Ferguson believes a Wembley win in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy could provide the catalyst to propel Peterborough United to promotion in the league.

Posh were one of the favourites to go up at the start of the season following relegation from the Championship but Ferguson's side have failed to keep up with the blistering pace set by Wolves, Brentford and Leyton Orient at the top of Sky Bet League One.

Peterborough head to the national stadium for Sunday's showpiece clinging on to the final play-off spot - but Ferguson insists victory over Chesterfield would lift the whole club and help set Posh up for a strong finish to the campaign.

He said: "Playing at Wembley is a great tool for me with regards to the rest of the season.

"The players will love the experience of playing at Wembley and they will want to return there later in the season for the League One play-off final.

"Obviously we need to win to make the day extra special. We couldn't fail to get a lift from parading around Wembley after the game with the trophy in our hands.

"There has been a lot of disappointment around the place because of our form this season and we take responsibility for that, but winning this Trophy would make up for some of that."

Ferguson, bidding to become only the second man to win the trophy as both a player and a manager, added: "We are not going into the game in ideal form but winning this competition has been one of our two main aims this season and we have treated the matches with a lot of respect as a result - and now we are in the final we want to win it.

"All our focus is now on this game. But it won't be easy because, like us, Chesterfield play an expansive style of football and it looks like they will be a League One club next season with the way they are going in League Two.

"But we need to back ourselves to play to the best of our ability and if we do that we will have a great chance of winning."